Essence of Champagne
Part of a series of short Dalliances Erotica
By
Dominic Lorenzo
SMASHWORDS EDITION
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PUBLISHED BY:
Dominic Lorenzo
on Smashwords
Essence of Champagne
Copyright © 2011 by Dominic Lorenzo
Essence of Champagne
As a well-known Food and Wine critic, I sometimes get inundated with requests to attend tastings here and there, depending on market forces. A few years ago the wine industry experienced a glut of wine issuing from bumper harvests. Vineyards were vying for position, trying to unload their highly stocked harvests to exporters and outlets that showed any sign of interest.
Top wines lost their table value but not their quality. It appeared that sales and marketing departments were falling over backwards to remain competitive while exploring every angle to move stock. Soon the volume of calls I received dictated that I become extremely selective in my acceptance to personal tastings. One particularly popular winery from the Barossa was so persistent in its pursuit of letters, emails and calls that, at the urging of my secretary, I eventually conceded to a late private tasting one afternoon in August.
I had other business in the area so my itinerary fitted in well with the invitation. I drove at a leisurely pace watching the afternoon sun extend long shadows on vines furrowed in rows along the hillsides like so many soldiers forming battle lines. The winery stood well back off the narrow road, though the undulating hillocks and vales hid evidence of it.
Turning left into a gravel drive I was led between meandering lines of poplars for 3 or 4 kilometres as though welcoming me to a regal event. Soon, outbuildings came into view opening into a large courtyard stationed by elegant sandstone warehouses interspersed with red brick whose arched doorways suggested a hint of Gothic inspiration. I had been here several years before and my first impression was revived: large flag-stoned court yard, well-maintained machinery, the 1860 main cellar building with its stone superstructure and tower.